Valve actuating mechanism



Nov" 5, 957 E. B. ETGHELLS 3 VALVE ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 28,1954 INVENTOR United States Patent *9 M VALVE ACTUATING MECHANISM EugeneB. Etchells, Birmingham, Mich., assignor to General Motors Corporation,Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application December 28, 1954,Serial No. 478,125

13 Claims. (Cl. 123-90) This invention relates to valve operatingmechanisms for internal combustion engines and the like, andparticularly to unique and simplified rocker assemblies including novellubrication means therefor of overhead-type valve operating mechanisms.

The main object of the invention is to provide a simplified rocker madeup of a plurality of similarly dished sheet metal stampings which whenassembled together form therebetween at least one lubricating oilconducting passage for conducing lubricant to one or more bearingsurfaces on the rocker.

Another object of the invention is to provide an oil conducting groovein the fulcrum bearing surface of the rocker the ends of which forpredetermined portions of the rocker oscillations are uncovered. tomeasure the amount of oil per rocker oscillation supplied to the dishedspace in the rocker above the bearing seat against which the rockerbears.

These and other objects areeattained in accordance with my inventionwith the structures hereinafter shown and described in the drawings byuse of a rocker, formed from a pair of dished out sheet metal stampingshaving oil conducting grooves formed therein, the rocker bearingdownwardly at opposite ends upon the push rod and valve stem and beingfulcrumed intermediate its ends by means of a stud fixedly anchored atone end of the cylinder head and extending through the rocker to providesupport for a bearing seat' about which the'ro'cker may oscillate duringreciprocation of the pushrod and the valve.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in section'and in elevation showing a portion ofan internal combustion engine incorporating a valve rocker andlubricating means in accordance with my invention.

' Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but enlarged to show the formationof the novel rocker and also the oil con,- ducting grooves in themembers and'the passage formed between the sheet metal members and howoil'is;trans mitted from a hollow push rod and metered to the area abovethe bearing surfaces about which the rocker fulcrums.

Fig. 3 is a view taken on the' line 3--3 of Fig. 2 illustrating theelongated configuration of the rocker, the oil lubricating grooves inthe members forming the oil conducting passages, and how the members aresimilar and telescopically nested together.

Fig. 4 is a modified showing of the invention similar to Fig. 2, butwith the oil being supplied through the stud anchored in the head whichprovides a bearing seat for the rocker instead of the hollow push rod. I

In the drawings there is shown an engine frame structure of conventionaloverhead valve-type including a cylinder block 1 and a cylinder head 2.Slidably guided for. axial reciprocation in the bore 3 ofthe cylinderhead is the stem 4 of a poppet valve 5, the upper end-6 of 2,811,959Patented Nov. 5, 1957 ice which is disposed laterally of the valve stemand has its upper end 9 also projecting above the cylinder head. Thelower end 10 of the push rod abuts the upper end of a valve tappet 11which is slidably guided for axial reciprocation in the tappet bore 12provided in the cylinder block 1. A cam 13 is shown on which rests thelower end of the tappet 11 and whose shaft 14 is rotatably driven in anydesired manner (not shown) to effect reciprocation of the tappet andpush rod.

It will be observed that the push rod is hollow and is provided at itsupper end with a port 15 which communicates with the interior thereofhaving the designation 16. Oil may be supplied to a passage 17 from thelubrieating oil pressure source of the engine (not shown). Oil isconducted from passage 17 through a port 18 communicat-ing with a smallchamber 19. Chamber 19 communicates with the interior of the tappet 11in a wellknown way which in turn allows oil to enter the lower end 10 ofthe push rod 8 through a port similar to the port 15 located in theupper end of the rod. The manner of supplying oil under pressure to thepush rod 8 is conventional and forms no part of the present inventionand, therefore, no further description is deemed necessary with respectthereto.

Operatively connecting push rod 8 and the valve stem is the novel valverocker or rocker arm 20 having arms 21 and 22 overlying and resting uponthe upper ends 9 and 6 of the push rod and valve stem, respectively. Therocker 20, as best seen in Fig. 2, is formed of a pair of dished members23 and 24 telescopically nested together and secured as, for example, byspot welding.

The -members 23 and 24 are stamped so as to obtain the configurationsshown with the outer member 24 be .ingsuitably recessed to form a groove25 which when .the inner member 23 is nested therein forms a lubricating.member 23 with a spherically dished bearing surface 27 which socketablyreceives a washer 28 having a correzspondingly shaped bottom surface 29forming the seating forgthe rocker. Centrally of the bearing surface 27the members 23 and 24 are provided with aligned apertures 30 and 31through which extends an elongated member 32 in the form of a studhaving its lower end fixedly anchored as by a press fit in a hole 33 inthe cylinder head, the stud being provided at its upper end with athreaded nut 34 which serves to retain the Washer 28.

I Located in the spherical bearing surface 27 of member 23 is adiagonally and substantially annularly extending groove 35. The groove35 is connected by a port 36, also in member 23, to the passage 26formed by members 23 and 24, the port 36 being located adjacent thecenter of'the rocker. The member 24 adjacent the outer periphcry of thearm 21 of rocker 20 is also provided with a port 37 which is largeenough to remain in continuous register withthe port 15 provided in theupper end 9 of the push rod 8 during oscillation of the rocker. 3 Duringthe lift stroke of the cam 13, the upward movement of the push rod 8will cause the rocker 20 to rotate about the washer 28 in acounterclockwise direction as .ward thrust is exerted upon each end ofthe rocker, the

bearing surface 27 is maintained in contact at alltimes with the washer28 and the rocker is restrained from rotation about the axis of the stud32. v I

As previously mentioned, the members 23 and 24 are sheet metals'tarripings similar in configuration and dished out so that they snuglyfit together one within the other to'form' the lubricating oil passage26. As also previously mentioned, the push rod 8 is always filled withoil under pressure supplied from the passage 17 connected to the enginelubricating oil pressure source. Since during rocking of the rocker 20by the push rod 8 and the valve stem 4 and spring 38 the port in theupper end of the rocker arm is large enough to be constantly inregisterwith the port 37 there will always be a supply of lubricatingoil in the passage 26 and in the port 36' and this will, of course,supply oil under pressure between the surfaces 27 and 29 in the groove35. When the rocker is in the position shown in solid lines,-i. e., withthe valve 5 closed, the ends 39 of the groove 35 in spherical surface 27will not be covered by the spherical surface 29 of washer 28 and oil canspill or dump into the dished out area 40of the rocker located abovewasher 28. During counterclockwise movement of the rocker to theposition shown by the phantom lines of Fig. 2 (when valve is fullyopen), however, there will be relative movement between the surfaces 27and 29 which will cause surface 29 to increasingly cover the ends 39 ofthe groove 35 until no more oil is supplied to area 40. When rocker 20has nearly completed an oscillation and valve 5 is approaching its seatdue to clockwise rotation of the rocker the ends 39 of groove 35 willagain be uncovered and oil will again be supplied to area 40. From theforegoing it may be appreciated that the amount of oil supplied to area40 is regulated by how much and how long the ends 39 are not covered bythe surface 29 during each rocker oscillation. Itshould be mentioned atthis point that it is important to regulate the amount of oil suppliedto area 40 since the oil supplied thereto is relied on in part tolubricate spherical surfaces 27, 29 and also to lubricate the abuttingsurfaces between valve stem end 6 and arm 22, valve spring 38, valvestem 4 in guide 3 and other parts. This is accomplished by the oil inarea 40 spilling out on the surfaces to be lubricated. If, however, toomuch oil is supplied, then large amounts will spill out of area 40and'run down stem 4 into the combustion chamber. This results in anexcessive loss of lubricating oil and undesirable exhaust smoking. Itwill be appreciated, of course, that the passage 26 and port 36 may berelied on to a large extent to lubricate the surfaces 27, 29 and it isfelt that this is an important feature of the invention. The addition ofgroove 35, however, improves lubrication between surfaces 27, 29 andalso makes it possible to supply metered quantities of oil to area 40for further lubricating purposes, the ported ends 39 serving to regulatethe amount; 7 V

The use of the two stampings 23 and 24 considerably simplifies theformation of the rocker including the passage 26 and groove 35 whichenables the bearing surfaces of the rocker and washer 28, as well asother bearing surfaces, to have regulated amounts of oil suppliedthereto.

It is felt from the foregoing that it may now be appreciated that a newand improved rocker has been provided which improves the lubrication ina valve rocker assembly and the valve means which such a rocker assemblyactuates.

Turning now to the modification shown in Fig. 4, in addition to passage35 formed between the members 23 and 24, a second passage 41 is alsoformed leading from the arm 22 adjacent the upper end 6 of the valvestem -oil to the passages 41, 42 and 26 the stud 32 is provided with apassage 43 which communicates with a suitable "oil pressure source andis in communication by means of a port 44 with the interior of thewasher 28. The interior of washer 28, however, is maintained in constantcommunication by means of an enlarged port 45 with the port 36 locatedin the inner member 23. Ports 45 and 36 are also in communication withone end of a groove formed in the spherical surface 29 of the washer 28.This groove in cooperation with the spherical surface 27 of the innermember 28 forms a passage 46 leading to adjacent the upper part of thewasher 28. Passage 46 has an erid 47 which will be uncovered uponmovement of rocker 20 to a position which opens the valve 6.

The operation of the modified assembly shown in Fig. 4, then, is asfollows: Oil is supplied under pressure through the passage43, throughport 44 into the interior of the washer or spherical bearing seat 28.The oil then passes through the port 45 which is enlarged so that it isat all times incommunication with the port 36. This meansthat there willalways be lubricating oil present in the passages. 41 42, 26' and 46.Oil in passage 41 is transmitted by means of a port 48 to the engagingsurfaces of the'arm- 22 and upper end 6 of valve stem 4 to therebylubricate these surfaces. Oil in passage 26 will by means of a smallport 49'lubricate the upper end of the push rod 8 (which may now besolid) and the bearing surface on-the underside of lower or outer member24 which is engaged by the upper end of the push rod. Oil in passage 46will, of course, be periodically allowed to spill into area 40 by reasonof an end 47 of passage 46 being uncovered by movement of rocker 20.Metering of oil into' area- 40 is thus accomplished as in the case ofthe embodiment shown in Fig. 2. In one case, however, the lubricatingoil is supplied to the rocker assembly througha hollow push rod and inthe other through the rocker arm bearing seat support.

What I claim is:

1. An engine' valve' rocker comprising inner and outer dish-shapedmembers telescopically nested together and securedto each other, saidmembers together forming a lubricating oil passage leading from adjacentthe outer peripheries of said members toward the centers thereof, theouter of said members having a port adapted to connect said passage tothe interior of a hollow push rod engageable with the outer of saidmembers, the inner of said members having a rocker fulcruming sphericalbearing surface at center thereof and a port therethrough leading fronisaid passage to said spherical bearing surface.

2. A rocker for transmitting the movement of an internal combustionengine push rod to an engine valve comprising a pair of similarelongated dish-shaped members telescopically nested and secured togetherto form a lubricating oil conducting passage therebetween leading fromadjacent the outer periphery of said members toward the centersofsaid'members, a port in the outer of said members communicating withsaid passage and adapted to communicate with the upper end of alubricating oil conducting" hollow push rod, the inner of said membershaving a spherical concave bearing surface and having a port connectingsaid bearing surface with said passage for the .conduction of oilthereto.

3, In an internal combustion engine including an engine frame, a valve,and a lubricating oil conducting push rod; a rocker assembly adapted totransmit movement between said push rod and valve comprising a bearingmember supported by said frame and having a convex sphericalbearingsurface located between said valve and push rod, and a rockerincluding a pair of dished members nested together one inside the other,the inner of said members having a concave spherical bearing surface inbearing engagement with said convex surface, the outer of said member'sen gaging said push rod and said valve adjacent the periphery of saidmember, said members together forming a passage leading from the placeof engagement 'of said push rod with the outer of said members toadjacent said bearing surfaces, said members having ports connectingsaid passage with said push rod and said bearing surfaces.

4. A valve rocker assembly comprising a support, a bearing mounted onsaid support and having a bearing seating surface spaced from saidsupport, a pair of dished members secured together to form a combinedrocker and lubricant container, one of said members having a cooperatingbearing surface in the dished portion thereof maintained in bearingengagement with said! bearing seating surface by a valve and a push rodwhose movements said rocker transmits, one of said surfaces having agroove therein between said surfaces, said members together formingtherebetween a passage extending from adjacent the engagement of thepush rod with said rocker arm to adjacent said groove, said membershaving ports connecting said passage with said groove and push rod, andmeans to conduct oil to said passage.

5. A rocker for transmitting the movement of an internal combustionengine hollow lubricating oil conducting push rod to an engine valvecomprising a pair of similar elongated dished sheet metal members, saidmembers being telescopically nested together and secured to each otherto forman oil container and an oil conducting passage therebetweenleading from adjacent the outer peripheries of said members to adjacentthe centers thereof, the outer of said members having a port adapted toconnect said passage to the hollow push rod, which is engageable withthe outer of said members, the inner of said members having a curvedbearing surface and a port leading from said passage to said bearingsurface.

6. A fulcrumed rocker comprising a pair of dished plate-like membersforming an oil container and an oil conducting passage therebetweenextending away from the fulcrum of said rocker, one of said membershaving a surface on one side of said rocker engageable by a push rodhaving an oil conducting passage therein and a valve stem on oppositesides of the fulcrum of said rocker, a bearing surface on one of saidmembers, said members having ports therein connecting said passage tosaid surface and adapted to connect said passage to the push rod.

7. A rocker comprising a pair of dished plate-like members, a surface onone of said members engageable by a push rod having an oil conductingpassage therein and a valve stem on opposite sides of the fulcrum ofsaid rocker arm, said members forming an oil container and a lubricatingoil conducting passage therebetween extending from adjacent the fulcrumof said rocker to adjacent where the push rod is adapted to engage saidsurface, a fulcrum bearing surface on the other of said members on theopposite side of said rocker, said members having ports thereinconnecting the passage formed by said members to said surfaces andcontainer.

8. A rocker for transmitting reciprocating movement of an engine pushrod to an engine valve wherein the push rod has a lubricating oilpassage extending axially therealong comprising a pair of dishedplate-like members, one of said members forming an oil container andhaving a bearing surface therein forming the fulcrum of said rocker, theother of said members having a surface adapted to be engaged by the pushrod and valve, said members together forming an oil conducting passagetherebetween adapted to connect the oil conducting passage of the pushrod with said bearing surface and container.

9. A valve rocker comprising a pair of dished platelike metallicstampings secured telescopically together so that the inner stampingforms an oil container, each of said stampings having a bearing surfacethereon, said stampings together forming an oil conducting passage 6therebetween, said stampings having ports therein connecting saidbearing surfaces and container together via said passage.

10. A valve rocker comprising at least one pair of dished memberstelescopically secured together wherein saidpair of members has at leastone pair of spaced bearing surfaces thereon, the inner of said membersforming an oil container, said pair of members together forming a fluidconducting passage therebetween and having ports connecting saidsurfaces and container together via said passage.

11. A valve rocker comprising at least one pair of dished memberssecured together wherein said pair of members has at least one pair ofspaced bearing surfaces thereon, the inner of said members forming anoil trough, one of said bearing surfaces having an oil conducting grooveformed therein, said pair of members together forming a fluid conductingpassage therebetween and having ports connecting one of said surfaces tothe other of said surfaces and groove and trough via said passage.

12. A valve rocker assembly comprising a support, a bearing having aspherical bearing seating surface mounted on said support with saidsurface being spaced from said support, a pair of similar dished membersconcentrically nested together to form a rocker, the inner of saidmembers having a cooperating spherical bearing surface maintained inbearing engagement with said spherical seating bearing surface by avalve and a lubricating oil conducting push rod whose movements saidrocker transmits, said cooperating spherical bearing surface having anannular groove therein between said surfaces, said members togetherforming therebetween a passage extending from adjacent the engagement ofthe push rod with said ro'cker arm to adjacent said groove, said membershaving ports connecting said passage with said groove and push rod, saidgroove being coverable and uncoverable by said spherical seating bearingsurface for a predetermined part of each rocker oscillation to therebymeter the oil which is supplied from said push rod through said portspassage and groove to the area formed by dishing .said members.

13. A valve rocker assembly comprising a support, a bearing having acurved bearing seating surface mounted on said support With said surfacebeing spaced from said support, a pair of similar dished membersconcentrically nested together to form a rocker, the inner of saidmembers having a cooperating curved bearing surface maintained inbearing engagement with said curved seating bearing surface by a valveand a lubricating oil conducting push rod whose movements said rockertransmits, one of said surfaces having a groove therein between saidsurfaces, said members together forming therebetween a passage extendingfrom adjacent the engagement of the push rod with said rocker arm toadjacent said groove, said members having ports connecting said passagewith said groove and push rod, said groove being coverable anduncoverable by relative movement of said surfaces caused by oscillationof said rocker for predetermined portions of each oscillation of saidrocker whereby oil may be supplied in metered quantities to the areaformed by dishing of the inner of said members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,176,083 Leake Oct. 17, 1939 2,272,166 Leake Feb. 3, 1942 2,563,699Winter Aug. 7, 1951 2,572,968 Bachle Oct. 30, 1951 2,657,679 Powell Nov.3, 1953 2,669,981 Leach Feb. 23, 1954

